perceptual learning

perceptual learning

      the effects of past experience on sensory perceptions.

      An organism's readiness to learn is of primary importance to its survival, and this readiness depends largely on its perceptual skills. Perceptual skills are intimately involved in producing more effective responses to stimuli.

      Historically, perceptual learning has been the subject of vigorous debate. Although early Gestalt psychologists denied that learning modifies perceiving, that this occurs is now almost universally accepted. Research continues to examine the extent of modification and how modification occurs. There are two main schools of thought: discovery and enrichment. The discovery theory holds that learning makes one aware of stimuli one had previously overlooked. Enrichment refers to one's increased awareness and heightened response capabilities in the light of a learning experience. It is very possible that discovery and enrichment may simply describe different aspects of perceptual learning.

      One aspect of the enrichment thesis holds that learning determines how one interprets common spatial relationships. For example, one learns to assume that a plate remains circular even though it may appear elliptical when viewed from certain angles. In fact, say theorists, these kinds of assumptions are essential in reducing ambiguity for mature perceiving.

      In the laboratory, perceptual learning has been tested and measured by observing the effects of practice on perceptual abilities. Subjects are given various auditory, olfactory, and visual acuity tests. With practice, subjects improve their scores, indicating that perceptual abilities are not immutable but are modifiable by learning. Researchers have also discovered through studies with newborn animals and with laboratory subjects adjusting to prism-distorted vision that active, exploratory interaction with the environment greatly enhances perceptual learning.

      In studies of animal behaviour, the term perceptual learning is sometimes used to refer to those instances in which an animal learns to identify a complex set of stimuli that can be used to guide subsequent behaviour. Examples of such perceptual learning include imitation and observational learning, song learning in birds, and imprinting in birds and mammals. See learning.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • learning theory — ▪ psychology Introduction       any of the proposals put forth to explain changes in behaviour produced by practice, as opposed to other factors, e.g., physiological development.       A common goal in defining any psychological (psychology)… …   Universalium

  • learning — /lerr ning/, n. 1. knowledge acquired by systematic study in any field of scholarly application. 2. the act or process of acquiring knowledge or skill. 3. Psychol. the modification of behavior through practice, training, or experience. [bef. 900; …   Universalium

  • Perceptual control theory — (PCT) is a psychological theory of animal and Human behavior originated by maverick scientist William T. Powers. In contrast with other theories of psychology and behavior, which assume that behavior is a function of perception that perceptual… …   Wikipedia

  • Learning — Learn and Learned redirect here. For other uses, see Learn (disambiguation) and Learned (disambiguation). Neuropsychology Topics …   Wikipedia

  • Learning disability — In the United States and Canada, the term learning disability (LD) refers to a group of disorders that affect a broad range of academic and functional skills including the ability to speak, listen, read, write, spell, reason and organize… …   Wikipedia

  • learning disability — a disorder, as dyslexia, usually affecting school age children of normal or above normal intelligence, characterized by difficulty in understanding or using spoken or written language, and thought to be related to impairment or slowed development …   Universalium

  • animal learning — ▪ zoology Introduction       the alternation of behaviour as a result of individual experience. When an organism can perceive and change its behaviour, it is said to learn.       That animals can learn seems to go without saying. The cat that… …   Universalium

  • Concept learning — Concept learning, also known as category learning, concept attainment, and concept formation, is largely based on the works of the cognitive psychologist Jerome Bruner. Bruner, Goodnow, Austin (1967) defined concept attainment (or concept… …   Wikipedia

  • Japanese speakers learning r and l — Japanese has only one liquid consonant, a lateral flap IPA|/ɺ/, while English has an alveolar lateral approximant IPA|/l/ and an alveolar or retroflex central approximant IPA|/r/. When Japanese speakers learn English later than childhood, they… …   Wikipedia

  • psychomotor learning — Introduction       development of organized patterns of muscular activities guided by signals from the environment. Behavioral examples include driving a car and eye hand coordination tasks such as sewing, throwing a ball, typing, operating a… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”